Clean
Erin Campbell
The ideas of clean and unclean were very important in the Old Testament; the books of the law and the prophets are filled with commandments and warnings about “clean” and “unclean.”
Leviticus 10:10 “...You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean...” (ESV)
Ezekiel 22:26 “The priests of Israel ignore my Law! Not only do they refuse to respect any of my sacred things, but they don’t even teach the difference between what is sacred and what is ordinary, or between what is clean and what is unclean.” (CEV)
Haggai 2:11-13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling: If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’ And the priests answered, ‘No.’ Then Haggai said, ‘If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, will the latter become unclean?’ And the priests answered, ‘It will become unclean.’” (NASB)
As I recently re-read this portion of scripture, a thought occurred to me:
Clean isn’t catching.
But unclean is.
There are many admonitions about touching an unclean thing and thereby becoming unclean oneself, but no examples about touching something and making it clean.
Unclean transfers. But clean must be actively maintained...chosen...guarded. It takes proactivity and effort.
Unclean can happen by accident, but not clean.
So where does that leave us? Let’s jump to the New Testament.
2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1 “As God said: ‘I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” (NLV)
Again we see that “clean” must be chosen and guarded. We don’t stumble into clean. We must live cautiously, wisely, and dare I say SEPARATELY. Is this passage telling us to shun all those who have not yet found their life in Christ? No. It is, however, strongly telling us that we must maintain separate, higher, standards for our lives than the culture around us is setting. Remember, clean isn’t catching. But unclean is. This means that if we open our minds and hearts to unclean things...we will catch the filth. If we watch or read about adultery, provocative sexuality, gossip, greed, unkept tempers, etc....we will catch some of these values and actions.
Is this passage saying that if you read a steamy novel you will start an affair with the guy next door? Not that fast. It is saying that the more you fill your mind with that kind of thinking, the easier it is to think of others within that context...and we as humans tend to travel down the easy path. This passage is saying “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU MAKE IT EASY TO THINK ABOUT...BECAUSE THAT IS FORMING WHAT IS EASY TO DO.”
One thing I love about God is that He simply tells us the truth about how our hearts and minds work. He made them, so He should know! Hearts and minds pick up what they are exposed to. We don’t have to like that (I don’t!), but we have to live with the reality and protect our hearts and minds.
“Clean” is entered into and maintained in two ways: One, as we flee the “unclean” we become clean. Two, Ephesian 5:26 talks about the “washing of the word.” Clean happens in our lives when we wash away the unclean that we have picked up along the way by reading, studying, and lining up our thinking and beliefs with the Word of God. This takes effort, but it is well worth it.
God also gives us a promise:
2 Timothy2:21-22 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (ESV)
It is when we carefully avoid the "unclean", and actively seek the "clean", that God’s fullest purposes for us are able to come about. He has an honorable design for our lives; He desires to fill our lives with usefulness and good work! So flee the unclean and pursue the clean. You will be glad you did.
1. Why do you think “unclean” is is easily catching, but “clean” isn’t?
2. What are the sources of “unclean” in your life right now?
3. What steps can you begin to take to eliminate those sources?
4. What is one truth from the Word of God that you need to allow to “wash” away some of the “unclean” in your life right now?
5. How are you going to pursue “clean” from this point on?
6. What is exciting to you about God’s promise to bring usefulness and purpose to our lives as we become more and more “clean”?
Excellent use of scripture and its applicable meaning to our lives. It's so important to see that God has called us to live separate, single-minded, as unto Him and forsaking fellowship with all impurity of mind and spirit so that we will live, breathe, and seek His eternal Holiness.
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